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Manufacturers are beginning to develop their 2012 liter engines for the new MotoGP rules. Ducatnewstoday.com reports Fiippo Preziosi ‘«£Ducati‘«÷s father of the Desmosedici‘«ō is speculating the sweet spot in th the rules may actually be in the range of 900 to 930 cc bikes.

While the preparations continue in the mother country Reuters has Force India preparing for the possibility that their assets will be seized during the Italian GP as a result of their dispute with Bologna-based Aerolab.

Ride to eat. Eat to ride. Just don‘«÷t take your barbie with you when you ride.
[url=http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/4988/man-fined-for-riding-bike-with-bbq-attached?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+twowheelsblog%2Fcom+%28twowhe elsblog%29]twowheelsblog.com[url]: Man fined for riding bike with BBQ attached

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ‘«Ű August 24, 2010‘«™ BMW Motorrad USA has launched a promotion to help America‘«÷s servicemen and women ride more safely. Active-duty* military personnel who purchase a new BMW S 1000 RR from August 19, 2010 until December 31, 2010, will receive a free safety package, including Race ABS & Dynamic Traction Control worth $1,480 from BMW Motorrad USA.

‘«£To show our gratitude and appreciation to our men and women in uniform for their service to our country, BMW now offers them our safety package on the S 1000 RR free of charge,‘«ō remarked Todd Andersen, BMW Motorrad USA Marketing Manager. ‘«£The result will be safer riders, fewer accidents and greater protection from harm for those who protect us.‘«ō

The new BMW S 1000 RR is not only the most powerful production bike on the market, it's also the safest, thanks to the cutting-edge electronic rider aids Race ABS and Dynamic Traction Control. No other motorcycle from any manufacturer offers this unique combination of safety features.

The number of accidents, injuries, and deaths among US military personnel has been an issue of great concern throughout the U.S. armed forces. BMW Motorrad USA's performance riding training partner, the California Superbike School (CSS), is actively involved in providing training to the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marine Corps to help reduce the number of military personnel who are injured and killed in motorcycle accidents.

Recognized as the foremost motorcycle school in the world, the CSS has taught 100,000 street riders and 15 U.S. Superbike Champions since its inception in 1980. Keith Code, director of CSS, has been a pioneer in the field of motorcycle training for more than a quarter of a century. Today, CSS is found on four continents, offering full rider training for riders of all types of motorcycles ‘«Ű from cruisers to superbikes.

This year, CSS switched from rival 600 Supersport motorcycles to the BMW S 1000 RR. Despite having 80 more horsepower, the number of student crashes on the track has declined by 60 percent. While the tracks, training, and students haven't changed, the safety features of the BMW S 1000 RR have led to a significant reduction in accidents.

According to Code, so far this year, over 900 CSS students have ridden more than 100,000 track miles at eight tracks in all types of weather conditions, wet and dry, on BMW S 1000 RRs fitted with Dynamic Traction Control and Race ABS systems.
‘«£Compared to the 600s we‘«÷ve used for the past 30 years, amounting to 12 million miles of track training with over 125,000 students at 106 tracks around the world, our crash ratio has reduced by 60 percent,‘«ō observed Code. ‘«£Last year, we had an average of 1.2 crashes per school day. This year, so far, crashes are down to 0.3 per day.‘«ō

‘«£For track-based high performance rider improvement, the ultra-fast BMW S 1000 RR, tempered by its state-of-the-art electronics, is the most fantastic training aid ever developed ‘«Ű period,‘«ō added Code. ‘«£The bike provides an electronic cushion that forgives some of the more common rider errors. This minimizes panic and gives riders more time to gather themselves before the situation escalates out of control.‘«ō

‘«£Of course, no bike will forgive careless reckless riding,‘«ō said Code, ‘«£but our experience proves that BMW‘«÷s rider aids can actually help you become a better rider,‘«ō

Offering a complimentary S 1000 RR Safety Package to America‘«÷s servicemen and women is one way BMW is showing its appreciation for their dedicated service to our country.

About the S 1000 RR

The S 1000 RR, weighing only 404 lbs and delivering a massive 193 hp, is one of the most potent, sophisticated and lightest sport bikes ever produced. It holds the distinction of being the most powerful production 1000cc sport bike in the world and has a manufacturer‘«÷s suggested retail price of only $13,800.

In addition to the class-leading power plant, the BMW S 1000 RR possesses new technical features, such as the first-ever four-stage Race ABS system with settings for Rain, Sport, Race and Slick conditions. The groundbreaking new ABS system weighs only about 5.5 lbs complete -- nearly 20 lbs lighter than the competition.

For more information about the free S 1000 RR Safety Package for Active Duty Military Personnel, contact your nearest BMW Motorrad USA authorized dealer, or visit BMWMotorcycles.com.
*Active members include active duty (including activated Reservists) of the U.S. Air force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard, Veterans Administration and those who have recently finished active service (within 6 months) with a current military identification card or are a key military contractor. A copy of Department of Defense form 214 may be necessary for those who recently have been discharged from active service.

Offer cannot be combined with any other retail customer incentive. Offer not valid on bikes without option 129.

Active members of the US armed forces are entitled to an after-the-fact $400 rebate on any eligible S 1000 RR that is not equipped with option 129 via the existing 2010
Military Purchase Program.

The California Superbike School

For more information about CSS sessions and costs, phone (323) 224-2734 or visit the CSS website at www.superbikeschool.com.

Perhaps what I fancy is not a traditional hooligan bike (talk about an oxymoronic turn of phrase) or a caf?ģ bike rather a super moto. Visordown.com gives a countdown list of their Top 10 wild childs of the motorcycle world.

clutchandchrome.com: Harley-Davidson donates motorcycle for Law Enforcement Museum
I was not aware of this museum. Have any of our LEO members been to it?

Fancy yourself a designer with a bent toward electron powered two wheel bikes
Australian company Intercad is looking for you. Motoaus.com keeps tabs on the Australian bike scene and ran a piece that led me to the Intercad site and project. Get out your finger paints.

Is the Ferrari 458 Itlalia ‘«ˇJinxed‘«÷?Telegraph.co.uk is the source for most of the reports I have heard or read. Sky.com has more words and pictures on the subject.

File this one under ‘«Ű Don‘«÷t do this at home or anywhere elese ‘«Ű visordown.com: Biker surrvies heart stopping 288 times.

Motorcycle Men on a Mission: BMW Performance Center Instructors Travel to Peru on Motorcycle Mission for Abandoned Children
‘«ů 25.08.2010
‘«ů Press Release

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ‘«Ű August 25, 2010‘«™ Most days, Jim Millard and Ross McKinney dedicate their time and talent to helping motorcyclists improve their riding skills on and off the road at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, S.C. For the next seven days, they will test their own motorcycle skills in the mountains and deserts of Peru to help nearly 300 abandoned children living in an orphanage in Moquegua. The pair is teaming up with motorcycle journalist Neale Bayly to raise money and awareness for Wellspring International Outreach, a charity founded by Bayly, to help the abandoned children of Peru.

The men will ride from Lima to Moquegua and back on BMW R 1200 GS and F 800 GS motorcycles to deliver $10,000 raised for the orphanage this year. They will be joined by videographers and producers who will film the adventure for an upcoming web series on www.speed.com.

‘«£Both Jim and Ross are experienced adventure riders and have a strong interest in mission work,‘«ō commented Bayly. ‘«£When we met at the Performance Center and they learned about my previous missions on behalf of the Peruvian children, they were eager to participate. I couldn‘«÷t ask for two better guys to accompany me on this trip.‘«ō
For more information about Wellspring International Outreach, visit www.wellspring-outreach.org.

With all the talk about intellectual property, word mark, trade mark rights on the forum this turn of events could be the fodder of good discussion on the forum, though if it ends up in the U.K. courts I am not certain I want to see the plaintiff. asphaltandrubber.com: Ducati trademarks ‘«£Diavel‘«ō name in the the U.K.

I receive of newsletters on a variety of topics. I always enjoy the Mustard Museum‘«÷s letter and enjoyed this week‘«÷s non-mustard newsletter more than most.
:eveil

NO TIME FOR A MUSTARD NEWSLETTER THIS WEEK BECAUSE-

The Curator has not had time to write a newsletter this week because the phone has been ringing off the hook. Good news, right? WRONG! They are almost all wrong numbers. It just so happens that our 800 number (800-438-6878) is one digit off from the toll-free number for Walmart employees wanting to buy or sell their stock (*6278).

Here's how the typical conversation goes:

Curator: "National Mustard Museum, this is the Curator. How may I help you?"

Walmart Drone: "I want to sell my stock."

C: "Really? Do you own stock in the Mustard Museum?"

WD : "Of course not, I want to sell my Walmart stock."

C: "Were you paying attention to what I first said, you know, something about a mustard museum?"

WD: "I just want to sell my shares."

C: "Sir, I think you misdialed."

WD: "No, I don't make mistakes like that."

C: "What kind of mistakes do you make?"

WD: "Other kinds. Buying the wrong brand of cat litter. Putting on mismatched socks. But I never dial the wrong number."

WD: "See, I did dial the right number. You were just messing with me. That stuff about a mustard museum - you're so funny.-

Curator: "Yes, sir, Walmart was just messing with you and we have a marvelous sense of humor. Have a nice day."

Calls like that are why there's no time for a newsletter this week. Our toll-free number is 800-438-6878 or 800-GET-MUST. If you are calling to sell stock in some publicly traded company, don't call us. We'll just mess with you.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ‘«Ű August 26, 2010‘«™ It is with great sadness that we inform you that Jack Pitney, BMW of North America Vice President of Marketing, was killed earlier today in a tragic accident while on vacation at his farm. We don‘«÷t have many further details to share with you at this time but wanted you to have the information as quickly as possible. As we learn more details, we will keep you informed.

ROLLS-ROYCE SPECIAL EDITION REVEAL AT PEBBLE BEACH

‘«ů 26.08.2010
‘«ů Press Release

This year marked the 60th anniversary of the legendary Pebble Beach Concours d‘«÷Elegance in Carmel, California. To celebrate the occasion, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars developed a bespoke Phantom Drophead Coup?ģ at the company‘«÷s Goodwood manufacturing plant, UK. The car was unveiled at the event by Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten M??ller-?Żtv?¬s and Chief Designer Ian Cameron, and was sold within minutes.

The car is painted in a one-off Bespoke exterior colour called Stillwater Blue as a tribute to Stillwater Cove on the Monterey Peninsula. It also features a navy blue soft top lined with cashmere and is upholstered in a Cr?Ņme Light leather interior. Interior wood fittings are composed of a striking cross-banded Santos Pallisander veneer contrasted with a silver pinstripe inlay.

Hand-crafted oiled teak decking is used for the roof tonneau and also in the luggage compartment flooring. A fully fitted champagne service set with crystal flutes complements the teak covered picnic deck, while a refrigerated cabinet is concealed beneath the luggage compartment floor.

Further Bespoke cues include an enamelled plaque on the dash, Concours logos on the tread plates and embroidery on each seat.

What is Rolls-Royce Bespoke?

When a Rolls-Royce customer commissions a Phantom, they demand more than just a list of standard features and options. Fulfilling that need for a personalised service falls to the Bespoke team.

Bespoke includes the development of anything from the most understated feature such as personalised tread plates, contrast stitching and seat piping to a bold expression in the form of personalised veneers and unique exterior paints. Then there are stunning creations like luggage, glassware and an opulent picnic set, all designed in-house at Goodwood.

‘«£This 60th Anniversary Special Edition is the embodiment of our Bespoke capabilities in Goodwood,‘«ō explains Torsten M??ller-?Żtv?¬s, ‘«£It demonstrates the ability of our designers and artisans to create something absolutely appropriate for an occasion and ultimately, something exceptional to cherish forever.‘«ō

as[ja;tamdrinn.com: MotoCzysz is partnering with Indiana-based Remy Electric Motors to bring the electric motorcycle power plant to the four-wheeled world.

What I've been up to.

In case anyone hasn't noticed , I haven't posted in a while-- a long while!
I'm sure you all missed me.
I've been building and now racing, a vintage Honda CB450. No, not a BMW-- but that may well be in my future. I am a licensed AHRMA competitor. I race in the Production Lightweight class.
I have to say, the AHRMA folks are great-- wonderful and friendly-- some of the best people you'll ever meet (but, isn't that true of almost all motorcyclist??)
It's been an 18 + month journey from buying the bike (then another-- then another!) and all the work involved just to get it the way I want it. The engine is totally stock. Never even opened up. The only thing that's been off it is both side cases.
My first race was Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. A rather intimidating track-- 4 miles long-- high speeds. I was so worried I would be horribly embarrassed. I thought my bike would be so slow people would point and laugh. Out of 16 I finished 6TH. I was in 3rd for a bit until a crash in front of me slowed me enough that 4 others got by me. Next day, I was in 4TH place when the trans stuck in 4TH. I still managed a 10TH place.
Then, Grattan, Michigan. had the same trans problems Saturday and had to pull off the grid. The makeshift repair I made Saturday (to keep the shift shaft from popping out locking the trans between gears) has held up so far. Sunday, I got a blistering start and managed to be in first for almost 2 laps. Talk about being freaked!!?? I kept telling myself: "calm down, calm down, ride your own race". But, no good. The first wave was made up of 250GP bikes and they were allowed nearly half a lap head start. One came by me and sucked me into a turn preceded by a hump. I flew over that hump at full throttle and found myself completely out of shape for the immediate next corner. I bounced from apex to apex, got passed by the eventual winner, found myself out of shape (still) for the next set of corners and got passed by the eventual second place winner. But-- I got third!! WOO HOO!
Next race (July 24/25) was at Beaverun, in Wampum, PA. Bike has been running funny since RA. It cuts out in the corners. I run a total loss system. I ran one battery through 5 practice sessions on Friday without a problem. Saturday morning, I pop in a new battery-- morning practice and the bike, except for this cutting out, runs fine. But, at the start of the race, it falls flat on it's face as I let the clutch out. Bad start, I'm at the back. The bike is running horribly except at full throttle. I worked my way up to second though!! WOO HOO!
Saturday night, the weather was horrible, wind, rain, EZ Ups disappearing over the horizon, bikes being blown over! It was horrible!
Sunday, spitting rain, cloudy skies, a vote is taken. No practice, just race? Yup is the majority-- I vote no, no one cares. The rain stops, side cars going out-- maybe they'll dry the track? Next race, track is getting some dry lines-- but then, it starts raining. Just a light, steady rain. Now, it's my turn-- rain suit/?Naw, it's just a light rain. New battery-- I found I have a defective. Testing it fully charged, it's at 13.08 volts. Start the bike and let it run barely a minute and it drops to 10.4. The bike is back to "normal" with the next new battery. Still cuts out in the corners. I get a great launch-- quite a bit out in the lead. My arch nemesis (the guy that won at Road America and Grattan) is on my butt. He's not to good i the rain-- in the dry, he runs away from me. Still, He can get me at turn 5 (sharp right hand, uphill) and stay ahead of me til the second to the last turn where I catch him then pass him getting on to the straight. I planned on doing that-- and winning but, it began to pour-- I mean a deluge. Water running into my boots, and, honestly, I could barely see where I was going. That really slowed down most of the others and we began lapping them. At Beaverun, the back straight has a "kink" in it. You take it at full throttle (it really sucks your giblets up into your earlobes though). The danger is, passing someone at the kink. If they don't know you're there, they come down on you at the apex. So, it's a go, no go situation. You better have a wheel in front of them so they know you're there.
We came up on some lapped traffic and he got through clean. I decided not to risk it. Good thing, they did come down to the apex. It would have been carnage.
I couldn't catch him, was second by 2.39 seconds.
VIR, August 8TH and 9TH. It was gawd awful hot!
I swept the weekend-- 1ST place both days. Not much to brag about though-- no real competition! For what ever reason, during Sunday morning practice, the bike suddenly quit cutting out-- I have no idea why. I've been through the carbs multiple times, re-checked everything--10 times! After that practice, I pulled the plugs-- very lean ( I had been leaning it out and leaning it out because the plugs were always black). I hopped up two jet sizes and it ran like a raped up. No cutting out in the corners. My race times were 6 seconds faster than the day before. My arch Nemesis was a no show. I had fun racing those Pre 40 Indians and Harleys!! Those doods are friggin nuts!! Hand shift, They look like some cruiser rider going by with the big wide handlebars!! No rear suspension, single spring and a friction knob for front suspension!! Those 45 cubic inch flat heads weren't supposed to go that fast-- were they?? It's one thing to have them pass you in the straights but, when your all leaned over in a turn, swearing your going faster than anyone has ever gone, pegs and toes scraping til your feet are getting hot, and this dood comes around you on the outside, takes his left hand off the bar and reaches down to grab another gear-- that's just wrong!!! I started in the second wave and we actually caught and passed some 1ST wave 200GP guys that got a half a straight away head start!
I'm in 3rd place nationally -- amazing! Not bad for a 62 year old fart that hasn't raced in 22 years or more!
I'm skipping Miller (1700 miles one way) but I'll be hitting Barber Oct 8-9TH.
I'm chomping at the bit. If you are going to be there-- look me up. Red numbers on a white plate #628Here are some pictures-- including one of my new friends Kristen and Bob on a BMW side car rig. These were all taken at Beaverun. Kristen and Bob Beaverun 2010 by wozerd, on Flickr

Friday PM Post

Wozerd ‘«Ű Great stuff!!!

Man a thousand questions pop to mind. Tell us more about the bike and the class you are racing in. I hope you and others feel free to post in this thread. Bench Racing is much more fun when it is not a monologue and a heck of a lot more fun to talk about things like this.

August 27, 2010 PM update

WSBK et al.

worldsbk.com: Official press release
DUCATI WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN 2011 WSBK AS A FACTORY TEAM!!!
However, they have pledged to support private teams competing in the series.

Saturday, 28 August

WSBK et al.

DUCATI WILL FOCUS ITS TECHNICAL RESOURCES ON PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE 2011 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A FACTORY TEAM

Borgo Panigale (Bologna - Italy), 27 August 2010 - Ducati, having participated with a factory team in every edition of the World Superbike Championship since it began in 1988, winning 16 Manufacturers‘«÷ world titles and 13 Riders‘«÷ world titles along the way, has decided to limit its participation to the supply of machines and support to private teams.

‘«£This decision is part of a specific strategy made by Ducati, the aim being to further increase technological content in production models that will arrive on the market in the coming years. In order to achieve this objective, the company‘«÷s technical resources, until now engaged with the management of the factory Superbike team, will instead be dedicated to the development of the new generation of hypersport bikes, in both their homologated and Superbike race versions,‘«ō declared Gabriele Del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati. ‘«£I would like to thank Nori and Michel, and all of the riders that have contributed to the great history of Ducati in Superbike, but above all the Ducati employees; it is their hard work and professionalism that has allowed us to achieve such important results. A big thank you also to all of the partners that have supported us, first and foremost Xerox of course. I would also like to acknowledge the Flammini brothers who have managed the championship for so long, and the FIM, the organization with which we have continuous, constructive relations.‘«ō

By making this important decision Ducati aims to increase the speed and efficiency with which it transfers advanced technological solutions, currently tested in the prototype championship, to the production series.

The task of testing innovative technical solutions in Superbike racing will therefore be entrusted to external teams in the coming years, teams that will have the chance to receive technical support from Ducati personnel. This choice will allow the teams to benefit from even more competitive machines and parts.

Despite the decision to interrupt its official participation in the World Superbike Championship, Ducati will continue to work, in collaboration with the championship organizers, other manufacturers and the FIM, to define a technical regulation aimed at containing costs.

Strong in the sporting spirit that has always allowed this manufacturer to compete, line-up against its rivals, and win, it is fundamental for Ducati to identify, together with the other interested parties, solutions that can guarantee the future of the championship in the medium-long term.
Recently the Superbike World Championship, according to the current regulations, has been interpreted as moving more towards competition between prototypes rather than for bikes derived from production machines. This has led to an increase in costs, both for the manufacturers and the teams participating in the championship. This picture does not correlate with the current worldwide economic situation, which has made the securing of sponsorship even more difficult. Ducati trusts that the work carried out by all parties will lead to improvement also in this area.

Ben Spies takes the pole at Indy uping the ante for speculation on when he will take his first win in MotoGP. He is followed on the grid by next year‘«÷s team mate Lorenzo in second and fellow Yank Hayden in third on Sunday‘«÷s Grid

The listed qualifying grid is provisional. There are several penalties that must be applied. Timo Glock will be dropped five positions for impeding.Sebastien Buemi will be dropped three grid positions for impeding.
In addition to these Nico Rosberg will drop five positions for a transmission change and teammate Schumacher will drop 10 as result of his incident with Barrichello at Hungary.

Robert Kubica is keyed up about his chances of upsetting the season front runners with his Renault while Alonso is frustrated by Ferrari‘«÷s failure to make the same tire choices that landed Webber the pole.

The trouble is this is Spa Belgium. The weather is tricky. The cars are in parc ferme with their final race setups. Who has the right one for Sunday‘«÷s race?

Sunday, 29 August

Belgium GP ‘«Ű Race notes

It is beginning to be that wonderful time of year in fly-over-land. Days are warm but not hot and nights are cool. The windows open up at night and the sleeping is good, so good I wasn‘«÷t that excited about getting out of bed when m alarm went off, but I had another seasonal ritual planned. The return to F1 racing after the summer break is combined with the first preparations for fall cooking.

Up early I fired up the computers sitting on one kitchen counter; the lap top to F1‘«÷s live timing and the BBC‘«÷s live commentary of the race and prepare the coffee pot. Those ready to go it‘«÷s time to look one more time at pages 107 and 8 of ‘«£Mastering the Art of French Cooking‘«ō then off to the sink another counter and then the stove to combine all the elements to make a chicken stock that will simmer slowly during the race.

I bounce between culinary tasks and checking the computer feeds to make certain I don‘«÷t miss the start of the race. The F1 feed still shows the times and commentary for yesterdays qualifying sessions. It is safe to take the time to carefully skim the first bits off the stock that is coming up to its low simmering temp. Never allow it to boil or the stock will become cloudy. Never forget to check the computers and miss the race start in the process. My timing, more a matter of luck than skill and planning, is impeccable. The stock is at a point that it can be left untouched for some time. I press the coffee pots on switch just as I settle into may chair put my feet up on a stool as the screens change to the opening comments for the start of the race.

I won‘«÷t give anything away about the race beyond saying it should be a fun race to watch based on what I saw in the feeds and commentary full of action on the track and in the pits as weather and racing choices combine on one of my favorite tracks.

Schumacher caught my eye early on and became the driver I followed through the race. Schumi qualified 11th and started in P21 after a much deserved penalty was assessed. His race was very interesting.

Early incidents and sprinkles had most teams heading to the pits to do a bit of work. The Mercedes GP team had a setup and tire choice that allowed them to go deep into the race before they took their first tier change. This allowed Schumi to take advantage of their stops to pass some; however, timing and F1 commentary described a race where fans would see his rain master skills and others combine to take advantage on the track of one driver after another until just before the midway point he was in P6. Detractors will scoff at this for a variety of reasons. Some may be legitimate yet the bench marks for me are Schumi was racing on the same track and conditions and the others [u]and[/] in the process passed his teammate who started several positions and rows ahead of him.

I could wax on but it is time to hit the shower, then take the stock off the stove and set it aside for future processing. Latter this morning I will jump on the bike for other Sunday morning rituals then off for a last ride for a bit. The bike will head to the garage for deferred maintenance and some repairs needed as a result of my last trip. Nothing to serious just minor damage from the family playing off road with the Roadster when we last got together. It must be in good shape for coming fall season. This is a time of year with extended dashes in crisp air finished with a warm soup made with stock like that simmering on my stove now.

Munich/Stephanskirchen, 30th August 2010. With the summer break now over, the race weekend at the N??rburgring in Germany sees the teams in the FIM Superbike World Championship entering the finishing straight of the 2010 season. For Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport the 11th race weekend of the season at the historic circuit in the Eifel mountains will be special for two reasons. It is the home event for the German team in this year‘«÷s championship, and on Sunday all involved will celebrate a new milestone: Race 2 at the N??rburgring will be the team‘«÷s 50th since its arrival on the World Championship scene in 2009.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Berthold Hauser and his team will be looking to build on their latest success on home soil. The N??rburgring has been a fine hunting ground over the years for Troy Corser (AUS), who already has his name inscribed on the winners‘«÷ list here. Ruben Xaus (ESP), meanwhile, will be aiming to put the knowledge gained over the past few races into practice and has his sights set on his first podium finish with the BMW S 1000 RR. Troy is lying in 10th place in the riders‘«÷ standings with 155 points, while Ruben‘«÷s 69 points put him in 14th. In the manufacturers‘«÷ table BMW has collected 174 points, good enough for sixth place.

The break between races saw Ruben give the BMW S 1000 RR a run-out with a difference as part of the City Racing Day in Rotterdam, Holland on 22nd August. The Catalan rider treated the large crowds attending the headline day of the weekend event to a captivating display of burn-outs and demo starts.

Troy Corser:
‘«£I really like the N??rburgring. In the past I‘«÷ve regularly had good results here, including several podium finishes and a race win. I think the circuit will suit the engine and chassis of our bike. Our aim for Friday practice is to settle on a good set-up. If we can do that, then anything is possible this weekend.

The N??rburgring is a great race track and the perfect venue for motorcycle racing. There are plenty of overtaking opportunities and lots of rises and falls. This generally produces really exciting and spectacular racing ‘«Ű both for us as riders and for the spectators. The Nordschleife is steeped in motor sport history, but with our bikes it would be far too dangerous to compete on the old circuit at race speed. In summer 2009 I had the chance to drive a BMW Formula One car at the N??rburgring, which was a lot of fun. I was surprised by how quickly you can feel comfortable driving that kind of car. But I think I prefer being at the limit on my bike.‘«ō

Ruben Xaus:
‘«£At the N??rburgring I‘«÷ll be aiming to build on my good performance at Brno. It would be nice if I could get the podium finish which I missed out on so narrowly in the Czech Republic as a result of my crash. A podium would certainly have been a possibility at Silverstone if we‘«÷d been able to work out our grip problems earlier on. However, we learned a lot of things there for the future. We found a set-up for the bike which allows me to record good lap times even when there isn‘«÷t much grip. Up to now, I‘«÷d only really been able to do that when the track offered the tyres good grip. That will help me to keep progressing and to be quick in all types of conditions. We‘«÷ve already shown that we can compete at the front of the field. And now I want to be doing that at all the circuits.‘«ō

Berthold Hauser, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
‘«£The N??rburgring represents both our home race and a small milestone in our history. There‘«÷s no doubt that our whole team is looking forward to the race weekend in the Eifel mountains. Things didn‘«÷t go quite how we were hoping at Silverstone, as we struggled with grip problems pretty much on all three days. However, we were able to find good solutions for these problems in time for the second race. Without his crash, Troy would have been in good shape for a podium in Race 2, and Ruben fought his way impressively up the field with some consistently strong lap times. This puts us in confident mood for the N??rburgring, as we can use the lessons learned at Silverstone into practice here. We know what we‘«÷re capable of achieving this season and are determined to get the results to match. It would be wonderful if we could finish on the podium once again here on home ground.‘«ō

Background:
The N??rburgring lies in the municipality of Adenau in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The circuit in the Eifel mountains opened for racing in 1927, making it one of Europe‘«÷s most historic racing venues. The N??rburgring was given a major overhaul in the 1980s, and this was followed by further modernisation work in 1999 and 2002. The 20-kilometre-plus Nordschleife circuit is a popular venue for car endurance racing, but the Superbike World Championship races are contested over the Grand Prix course. The track measured 4.556 km when the World Superbikes made their debut here in 1998 and was extended to 5.137 km in time for the 2008 race weekend.

The N??rburgring wastes no time in reminding the riders of the exacting test ahead of them, its first corner ‘«Ű the ‘«£Yokohama-S‘«ō ‘«Ű already providing a serious challenge. The riders brake extremely late and try to put themselves in a good position going into the ‘«£Mercedes Arena‘«ō, where some of the corners tighten steadily as they unwind. The bikes need to display good steering responses in this part of the track to enable the riders to get on the power early out of the corners. The ‘«£Bit-Kurve‘«ō is the most important corner on the circuit and has to be negotiated well in order to carry sufficient speed into the high-speed section afterwards. The ‘«£NGK‘«ō chicane provides another hard braking zone, before the track climbs up towards the start/finish straight. The N??rburgring is famous for its unpredictable weather, which can change from one moment to the next. Its setting in the Eifel mountains means dry, sunny conditions can give way to heavy downpours and hail in a short space of time. Troy Corser won a World Superbike race here in 1999, and this season sees the championship stop off at the ‘«£Green Hell‘«ō for the fifth time.

Ducati Announce a two year deal with Nicky Hayden
Press Release
August 28, 2010

Ducati is pleased to announce a renewed contract with Nicky Hayden that will see the American rider stay with the Italian factory's MotoGP effort for a further two years.

His signature completes a new look of the Ducati MotoGP Team line-up for 2011, which will see the 29-year-old line up alongside Valentino Rossi.

Hayden, who over the past two seasons has won over the Ducatisti with his positive and determined attitude, currently lies sixth in the MotoGP World Championship standings and is confident for two successful seasons ahead, which he will tackle with his trademark enthusiasm.

Filippo Preziosi - Ducati Corse Director
"We are really pleased that Nicky will be staying with us for the next two years. It is no secret that he is a rider who never gives up, his whole racing history shows it. As a person his tenacity is an example for us all because he shows us that nothing is impossible if you truly believe. His progress since arriving at Ducati has been impressive and I am sure this trend will continue in the future. Nicky is also a special rider because of his attention to every detail and for him having Valentino as his team-mate means a huge contribution towards the development of an even more competitive motorcycle. I think it is these characteristics that have won the hearts of all the Ducatisti and that is the reason why a Ducati is the bike for him right now."

Nicky Hayden - Ducati MotoGP Team
"I am very proud to be signing for Ducati again. Last year I felt like I rode for Ducati but now I really feel as if I am a Ducati rider. The team, sponsors and Ducati fans have really taken me in and supported me a lot and I really hope to pay them back with the results they deserve. Next year I'll be teamed with some guy named Rossi who knows a little something about bikes! We're going to have a strong squad - I won't predict results but I have no doubt this team will have some real passion, real worth ethic and a lot of fun. It is the start of a new era at Ducati and it is an honour for me to be a part of it."

Other Racing

29 August 2010 20:29
Podium success for Husqvarna and Salminen at EWC GP of Greece
BMW Husqvarna Motorsport rider Juha Salminen has made a successful return to racing after injury, claiming a runner-up result in the Enduro 2 class on day two of the GP of Greece. In doing so Juha gave Husqvarna‘«÷s new TE449 machine it‘«÷s first world championship podium result. Returning to action having been forced to sit out rounds three, four and five of the ‘«÷10 EWC series following a foot injury, Salminen wasted no time in getting himself and his new machine up to speed and after placing a strong fourth in class on day one placed as a deserved runner-up on day two.

With temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius during both days of competition at the sixth round of the ‘«÷10 Enduro World Championship the Greek event proved to be one of the championship‘«÷s toughest to date. But for Salminen the extreme heat and dry conditions were no problem as the former seven-time world champion made light work of the event‘«÷s varied and challenging special tests. Just over one-minute behind class winner Ivan Cervantes on day one Juha upped his game on day two to move to the second step of the podium and marked his return to racing in no uncertain terms.

Marko Tarkkala also delivered strong results for the BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team in Greece placing just outside the top 10 on day one and then in sixth on day two. Bad luck prevented Marko from finishing higher up the E2 class results on day one as the Finn damaged his rear brake lever on one of the extreme tests, which hampered his performance and lost him precious time. Bouncing back on day two Marko placed a strong sixth.

The BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team will next be in action in the Enduro World Championship at the GP of Turkey, which takes place on September 4/5.

Juha Salminen ‘«Ű Enduro 2 class: ‘«ˇI‘«÷m pretty pleased with the way I‘«÷ve ridden this weekend. Firstly, it was good to be back racing again after such a long time off. The foot that I injured didn‘«÷t give me any problems, but I certainly know I‘«÷ve ridden for two long days. The heat wasn‘«÷t really a problem for me but the dust was pretty bad in places. I found it really difficult on the first lap on day one as I had to find my rhythm again. Once I was comfortable I could start pushing harder. I made a few small mistakes during the first lap on day two but otherwise everything went well. I had a good result on day two here last year and again this year it‘«÷s been a good second day. Hopefully I can continue that in Turkey next weekend.‘«÷

Marko Tarkkala ‘«Ű Enduro 2 class: ‘«ˇAlthough my result from day one wasn‘«÷t so good generally I didn‘«÷t have such a bad day. My one big problem was that I hit my rear brake pedal on something on one of the extreme tests and bent it really badly. I bent it underneath the foot peg and lost quite a lot of time. Apart from that the day went ok. It was very hot but it wasn‘«÷t a problem for me. Day two was better. I made some small mistakes but I think all riders did on the enduro test. The important thing was to improve my result, which I did with sixth.‘«÷

Tuesday, 31 August

WSBK et al.

WSBK returns to the Green Hell, as the N??rburgring circuit is known to many, for the final push to the end of the season. For BMW Motorrad it will be their 50th race since their entrance into SBK racing at this level and on their home track. Last year the team was in something of a shambles when the summer break came. After the break things came together and the season ended on a stronger note that has carried through to this season. Will this be repeated?

Klaus Allisat has worked for the BMW Group since 2003. He has been Vice President Purchasing BMW Motorrad since 2008, in which function he has also been responsible for Husqvarna Motorcycles purchasing operations.

Before joining the BMW Group Allisat worked in various internationally oriented positions in corporate consulting with A.T.Kearney GmbH, Stuttgart and prior to this for Daimler Benz AG, Stuttgart.

After three years of managing Husqvarna Motorcycles, Rainer Thoma will now be taking up a new position at BMW Group headquarters in Munich.

Since the acquisition of Husqvarna MC by the BMW Group in 2007, the company has been separated from MV Agusta, a new R&D centre has been put into operation at the Husqvarna site Cassinetta, production and spare parts supply has been restructured and the company has pushed ahead with numerous developments for the Husqvarna Motorcycles product offensive now starting.

In spite of a difficult global market environment, Husqvarna MC was able to maintain a stable sales volume from 2008 to 2009 as compared to the competition. With a sales decrease of only around 3% in 2009, the brand recorded a lower decline than any of its competitors.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ‘«Ű August 1, 2010... The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported August sales of 23,965 vehicles, a decrease of 1.6 percent from the 24,343 vehicles sold last year. Year-to-date, the BMW Group also reported a sales volume of 168,940 vehicles, up 5.6 percent from the 160,044 units sold last year.

Richmond Hill, ON . BMW Group Canada (BMW and MINI brands combined) reported retail sales of 2,732 units in August, a decrease of 0.6% compared to August 2009. On the year, BMW Group Canada reported sales of 20,296 units, representing an increase of 7.0% over the same period last year.

BMW Motorrad achieves 3rd consecutive record month.
BMW Motorrad Canada set an all time record for the month of August with 185 retails, an increase of 19.4% over the same period in 2009. BMW Motorrad year-to-date retails of 1,620 units represent an increase of 4.9% over last year.

ducati.com: Multistrada 1200 awarded best Open Street Bike Award by Cycle World

Programme:
Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport rider Troy Corser (AUS) had a very satisfying Friday at the N??rburgring (GER). He finished the first day of the team's home event of the 2010 FIM Superbike World Championship in an encouraging second, and is happy after a very productive Friday. Ruben Xaus (ESP) was still struggling to find rear grip and finished 14th. Xaus and the team are confident they will find a solution before tomorrow's Superpole.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport also wants to congratulate Sami Penna. The Finn is one of the successful riders of the BMW S 1000 RR in national championships and has celebrated an early title victory in the Nordic Superbike Championship.

Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:57.250 min (9th) / Fastest lap Qualifying 1: 1:55.447 min (2nd)
‘«£This morning we just ran the bike the way it was when we finished in Silverstone, because I was quite happy with the settings we found for the second race there. We had to adjust the springs at the front a little bit, and also the rear of the bike to find some grip. We have also been working on the gearbox. Now I am pretty happy and confident for the rest of the weekend.‘«ō

Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:57.835 min (15th) / Fastest lap Qualifying 1: 1:56.799 min (14th)
‘«£The practice was quite okay. We are already faster here with this bike than we were last year. There is nothing else I could ask for. But I need some more grip. That is our only problem. The bike is getting better and better, but we have no grip at all. As soon as we find the solution I am sure we can be at the top again.‘«ō

Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
‘«£We are very happy about Troy's performance, while for Ruben we are still struggling with rear grip. I am pretty sure Ruben can improve tomorrow while we think that with Troy we can fight for the podium on Sunday.‘«ō

TROY HAPPY WITH SECOND AT THE ‘«ˇRING'

Troy ended the first day of practice and qualifying at the Nurburgring satisfied with the progress he made today, but is looking forward to further improvement tomorrow. Troy likes the 5.137 kilometre track and today‘«÷s only real problems were to do with finding good grip. Pirelli brought the tyres they introduced in Misano and Brno - the ones that took more understanding and work on bike set-up than the standard tyres - and so Troy and team had to try many different things to get the bike working well with them.

Ducati tested at Mugello recently (with these tyres) and it was no surprise that they dominated the top six positions today, with Carlos Checa leading the way.
Second though is Troy, with Michel Fabrizio third and Shakey Byrne fourth.

Troy - 2nd, 1:55.447

We started this morning with the bike the way it was when we finished in Silverstone, because I had liked the settings we used there in the second race. We had to adjust the springs at the front a little bit, and also the rear of the bike to find some grip and really grip was our main problem today, but that‘«÷s normal on the first day. We also worked on getting the bike more stable and trying to mesh together the good settings and feelings of the two different tyres we tried today. There‘«÷s more work to be done in that area, but I‘«÷m feeling fairly good about the prospects this weekend.

I like this track and, so far, things have been going pretty well. This is the team‘«÷s home race, so I would like to get a couple of podiums for them and all our fans here. It‘«÷s not going to easy on Sunday, but if things work out well in qualifying and Superpole tomorrow, there‘«÷s no reason why we can‘«÷t be celebrating at the end.
Wish me luck!
Troy
1st Qualifying Results

The Saturday of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the N??rburgring (GER) started in a more than promising way for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. Troy Corser (AUS) topped the timesheets in the second Qualifying Practice and then again in the Free Practice, setting the fastest time of the whole weekend so far, before crashing out in the first corner. But in the Superpole the team‘«÷s fortunes turned. All of a sudden Troy was struggling and crashed two more times, finishing 14th. Ruben Xaus (ESP) was on course for a good qualifying for the final Superpole session, but also crashed when another rider in front of him suddenly slowed. This meant Ruben could not improve his time and finished 11th. The most important thing is that both drivers escaped unhurt, and all that bad luck only gives the team even more motivation for tomorrow's races.

Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:55.804 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:56.583 min / Fastest lap Superpole 2: 1:55.375 min
‘«£I have been struggling today with grip. Going into Superpole I thought I could make it onto the second row, but sadly I have to settle for a row three start. The bike feels good, so we just need to work on a few things to ensure the grip levels are consistent. All in all I am happy with the progress we have made so far. I am not setting any goals for the races tomorrow, am just going out there to do my best and hopefully the setup we have for the race will work well. I am certainly looking forward to the races.‘«ō

Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Fastest lap Qualifying Practices: 1:55.429 min / Fastest lap Free Practice: 1:55.081 min / Fastest lap Superpole 3: 1:55.599 min
‘«£In the first two crashes I just lost the front going into the first corner - without warning. With the qualifying tyre we had no rear grip compared to what we had on the race tyre. There was nothing I could do. It is a little disappointing because I feel we had a good balance for the bike, a good setting and I could have easily finished on the first row. But we never give up. The lap times we can do are fast enough, so we will just try to have a good start and make our way through the field.‘«ō

Davide Tardozzi (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team Manager):
‘«£We were convinced we would be in the last Superpole session with both riders, and that we would even be in contention for the Superpole with Troy. There is not much to say. But we are still optimistic for tomorrow because Troy proved that the bike is good and he can manage a podium.‘«ō
Troy Corser‘«÷s Website : ups and Downs for Troy

After setting the fastest times in second qualifying this morning and then in the free practice this afternoon, Troy saw his dreams of taking Superpole vanish after three crashes and a difficult Superpole 1. After problems with grip with his qualifying tyres, Troy struggled in Superpole 1 and was unable to get into Superpole 2, therefore ruining any chances of taking a place on the front row of the grid. Fortunately Troy was unhurt in the crashes, but now he faces a difficult pair of races, starting from the fourth row of the grid. Series leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia) blasted his way to victory in Superpole, with a record lap of 1:54.595. Second was Carlos Checa (Ducati), with Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) third and Jonathan Rea (Honda) fourth. Troy - 14th, 1:55.599 Obviously I am pretty disappointed about how Superpole turned out. To be honest, after today‘«÷s qualifying and free practice, I expected to be on the front row of the grid at the very least! Once again though, the qualifying tyres didn‘«÷t work as well as the race rubber and I just couldn‘«÷t get any grip out of them. In the first two crashes, I just lost the front going into turn one - both times without any warning at all - and there was nothing I could do. I am not normally a crasher, but crashes are an occupational hazard in racing. But for me to have three on one day is far too much! I‘«÷m a bit battered and bruised, but otherwise OK. It‘«÷s a shame, because I feel that we have a good balance for the bike and a good setting and I‘«÷m sure I could‘«÷ve easily finished on the front row. But I know that my lap times are fast enough and, as long as I can get my usual good starts, I‘«÷m sure I can work my way through the field. The starts will be crucial because the first turn is so tight and if you are not in the leading group, it‘«÷s easy to be get left behind through the first sequence of corners and that would make life very difficult. I have been way down the grid before and got good results, so I see no reason why I cannot do the same here. Wish me good starts! See ya, Troy

Badovini once again demonstrates that the S1000RR can dominate a class. As close as the BMW Motorrad Motorsport Team is to a pole and their first win they can not do that with the bike on its side and the rider skidding across the track scuffing up their leathers. This is not intended as bad mouthing the team or a negative value judgment. Rather it is a simple fact. Until riders, engineers and mechanics at BMW figure out tire management issues the bike and pilots will never achieve their full potential.

I have no doubt that Corser will provide fans with an exciting race on Sunday. He has managed some great starts and strong runs early in races. However, the bike tends to fade as a race wears on and racing shoes loose their grip. Sunday he has to fight past a dozen riders before he can challenge the race leader for the top spot on the podium. The bike and rider are capable of it in theory but until that problem with tires is sorted out bike and rider will no doubt run out of traction before they run out of opponents to defeat.

To ad insult to injury to Roundel fans, Corser‘«÷s efforts no matter how heroic will for the most part go unviewed as the cameras focus on front runners

The 11th round of the 2010 FIM Superbike World Championship at the N??rburgring (GER) was the home event for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport and today's second race marked the 50th race for the young team in the series. But today lady luck was not on the team's side.

In the first race both riders had a good start and gained lots of positions, but unfortunately during the first lap Troy Corser (AUS) was the innocent victim of a crash and fell. The race was red flagged. Troy was able to take the second start, but had to withdraw after six laps due to a painful arm as a result of the crash. The injury also hindered him in the second race and he came in 12th. Ruben Xaus (ESP) put in a convincing performance with consistent lap times and finished seventh and ninth. In the championship standings, Troy is 11th with 159 points, while Ruben improved to 13th with 85 points. In the manufacturers‘«÷ standings, BMW is sixth (190 points).

In the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup the new champion Ayrton Badovini from Team BMW Motorrad Italia STK continued his winning streak. The Italian celebrated his eighth victory in the eighth race of the season. He had already secured an early title victory in the series five weeks ago at Silverstone.

Ruben Xaus:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Result Race 1: 7th, Gap to 1st: 00:19.613 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:56.448 min
Result Race 2: 9th, Gap to 1st: 00:21.040 min / Fastest Lap Race 2: 1:56.178 min
‘«£It has been a really tough day for us. In both races I fought really hard. In race one with Leon Haslam and race two with James Toseland. I was pushing on every lap, but unfortunately I was having some issues on the first section of the lap. I just couldn‘«÷t keep them behind me. But the team have done a great job yet again for me this weekend. All we need to do now is work on a few minor things with the bike, just to find that half second, and then I think we can really challenge the front guys. I am hopeful we can do this for the next race in Imola.‘«ō

Troy Corser:
Bike: BMW S 1000 RR
Result Race 1: DNF
Result Race 2: 12th, Gap to 1st: 00:22.746 min / Fastest Lap Race 1: 1:56.143 min
‘«£In the first race I crashed in an incident with Leon Haslam and I went down on my elbow pretty hard. But I felt I was able to go out for race two despite the pain. Everything felt pretty good for the first ten laps, but after that the pain got worse and I had issues with the feeling in my arm. So I decided to settle for my position and just bring the bike home. I didn‘«÷t want to risk further injury by challenging the riders in front. Of course I am disappointed because I am sure under normal circumstances I would have been on the podium. But we are looking forward to the next race now in a positive manner.‘«ō

Berthold Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director):
‘«£Our home event started very well, but the final outcome is not what we expected. We were on top until Saturday before the Superpole started, but then we were followed by bad luck. Troy had a brilliant start in the first race today and moved up to ninth, but then was hit from behind. He was hurt in that crash and that also hindered him in the second race. Hats off to Troy for riding despite the pain. I am really happy for Ruben: he put in a superb performance achieving the best possible results. We had the potential for more this weekend, but now we are determined to show that in the next races.‘«ō
TroyCorser.com[/url]

EVENTFUL DAY FOR TROY.

The eleventh round of this year‘«÷s Superbike World Championship at the Nurburgring in Germany proved to be a very eventful one for Troy. After his crashes yesterday, Troy was hoping for two clean races, but any thoughts of that disappeared soon after the start of the first race when he crashed after Leon Haslam (Suzuki) highsided right in front of him. The race was red-flagged and Troy was able to get back to the garage, where he changed into a new set of leathers. He had injured his right elbow in the process, but managed to make the restart OK.

On the opening lap of the race, he got into turn one too hot and ran wide, taking Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) with him and although neither crashed, he and Sylvain ended up at the rear of the field. As the race wore on, Troy began to suffer from a lack of feeling in his right hand and because of that he decided to opt for safety and pull out. He had treatment and ice on his elbow and hand during the interval between race one and two and decided to take part in the second race just five minutes before the start. After half race distance, Troy was in discomfort and not able to push hard, but he carried on and finished 12th.

Race one started with a battle between Jonathan Rea (Honda), with Carlos Checa (Ducati) and Noriyuki Haga (Ducati). But after Haga crashed out on lap 8, Rea was able to control the race and comfortably run out the winner. Checa was second, with Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) third. In the second race, Haga redeemed himself by taking the win, over three seconds ahead of Rea, with Haslam third.

Troy - Race 1: DNF, Race 2: 12th
Well I guess you can say that an awful lot happened this weekend, especially yesterday and today! The crash in the first race was Haslam‘«÷s fault because he highsided right in front of me and I had nowhere to go. I suppose we were lucky that the race was red-flagged and those of us who had fallen got another chance. I had given my right elbow a pretty hard bang and it felt sore and uncomfortable when I changed into a different set of leathers for the restart. On the first lap, I got in the turn one too hot because I couldn‘«÷t feel how hard I was braking! I ran wide and unfortunately took Sylvain with me (sorry Sylvain!). We both went off the track and rejoined the race, but we were right at the back of the field. I carried on for a while, but didn‘«÷t have much feeling in my fingers, which made it difficult to know how hard I was braking! After I missed a few braking points, I decided to pull out because I didn‘«÷t want to crash and didn‘«÷t want to hit anybody.

I had some treatment and ice on my elbow, but only decided to take part in the second race five minutes before the start. The team stretched the suit a bit, so my right arm was more comfortable and everything was pretty much OK up to about half race distance. I had a good dice with my team mate Ruben (Xaus) for a while but then I began to feel more and more sore, so I rode steadily, tried to keep out of trouble and bring the bike home so that I could give as much info as possible to the team.

It was a big shame about my elbow, because I really believed that I could‘«÷ve finished well in the top six in both races today despite my grid position. Certainly, I felt much better in race two than race one, but at this level you have to be 100% all the time to compete with the top guys and today I just wasn‘«÷t able to do that. I see no reason though, why I should not be fit enough for the next round in Imola in three weeks time and there I really want to be able to fight for a podium again. See ya,
Troy
Results and points

worldsbk.com: Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) took his eighth successive win of the season at a sunny N??rburgring, posting a perfect 200 points total so far.

Winning on BMW's home ground, Badovini was almost a second up on Maxime Berger (Honda Ten Kate Race Junior), who led until lap 9, with Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini) in contact and in the final podium place.

Monday, 7 September

Salminen battles to double sixth place finish at EWC GP of Turkey
BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team rider Juha Salminen has placed sixth on both days of the Enduro World Championship‘«÷s seventh and penultimate event ‘«Ű the GP of Turkey held in Fethiye. With the event being the first held in Turkey no teams or riders knew what to expect, but soon found conditions to be extremely dry, rocky and dusty. Hoping to repeat his podium result scored on day two of the GP of Greece, Salminen mixed special test winning performances with a handful of occasional mistakes and spills to finish sixth on both days.

Day one started steadily for the former seven-time world champion before topping the motocross test on lap two. With the event‘«÷s enduro test running through rock littered woodland, the motocross test proved to be extremely dry and dusty while the extreme test was slow and technical. Juha ended the opening day just under one-minute behind E2 class winner Mika Ahola.
After placing fifth in class on the opening enduro test Juha topped the motocross test on lap one before finishing third on the opening extreme test and looked well placed to better his day one result. Frustratingly for Salminen day two ended with the same sixth place Enduro 2 class result as he claimed on day one. Juha‘«÷s team-mate Marko Tarkkala endured a tough weekend in Turkey placing 13th and 11th.

The BMW Husqvarna Motorsport team will next be in action in the Enduro World Championship at the series‘«÷ final event, staged in France on September 25/26.

Juha Salminen ‘«Ű Enduro 2 class: ‘«ˇIt‘«÷s certainly been an interesting race here in Turkey. I guess nobody knew what to expect before the race but the organisers did a very good job. The race certainly wasn‘«÷t easy and although the organisers didn‘«÷t get everything perfect the tests were good and the event was certainly of world championship standard. My problem was consistency. Some tests were very good, but others weren‘«÷t. I found it difficult to get into my rhythm during the first lap on day one, but then I won the motocross test on lap two. I didn‘«÷t make any big mistakes, just some small ones. That was enough to put me in sixth. Day two was similar ‘«Ű I had some good tests but others weren‘«÷t good. Things were again good on the motocross test, where I won again, and were also good on some of the extreme tests. But I couldn‘«÷t be consistent enough, and on the final test of the second day I fell.‘«÷